Record Store Day Postponed Over Coronavirus Concern [Update]

Update: Record Store Day has been pushed back a little further, now with plans to spread it out over three days in the fall. Aug. 29, Sept. 26 and Oct. 24 will be the new Record Store Days for 2020. Read a full statement below:

Since 2008, Record Store Day has grown into the world’s largest single-day music event, shining a light on the culture of the indie record store across the globe. In 2020, that world is different, so Record Store Day will be too. RSD is now scheduled to be celebrated with special, properly distanced release dates on Saturdays in August, September and October.

Record Store Day will look very different this year, but supporting indie record stores may be more important than ever. We don't know what sort of rules will be in place, or what sort of gatherings people will be in the mood for this year, so we're focusing on the music and getting the really great titles on the RSD Official List this year into the stores and into your hands, in the most financially and socially responsible way.

The titles on the RSD 2020 Official List, launched on March 5th, will be released at participating record stores on one of these three RSD Drops: August 29th, September 26th, and October 24th. The new version of The List, with newly assigned RSD Drops dates will launch on June 1 so check back here for a look at when you'll be able to pick up the titles on your RSD 2020 wishlist at your local record store.

The new date will be June 20, moving from the original April 18 date. "At the risk of stating the obvious, no one knows what things will look like in any given place over the next five weeks, but it is imperative that hard decisions for that time period need to be made right now, using current facts. There is no perfect solution. There is no easy answer," stated Record Store Day officials.

"So, we’ve decided that, this year, our best possible move is to change the date of Record Store Day to Saturday, June 20th," they continued. "We think that this takes into consideration the recommendations of the many doctors and scientists lending their expertise to help in the Coronavirus pandemic, as well as the many other individuals at the World Health Organization (WHO), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other agencies tasked with the difficult job of getting us through this crisis."

Record Store Day recently revealed a large list of the specialty releases that will be available. You can check out our rock and metal list here, while perusing the full Record Store Day list at this location.

The Record Store Day postponement is just the latest in a long list of postponements or cancellations over the last few days. Concert giants Live Nation and AEG have revealed their plans to pause touring through the end of the month, while acts around the world continue to figure out how to proceed moving forward. In addition, Canada's Juno Awards, that were set to take place this weekend, have been cancelled.